End of the New Deal?
The battle over Social Security is the latest round in a war that the far Right has been waging since the 1930s.
There is a small but well-organized minority that has been champing at the bit to dismantle every last shred of the safety net that was put in place during FDR’s presidency. Replacing the progressive income tax (i.e. the more you earn the higher percentage you pay) with a flat tax is right up there at the top of their list, along with dismantling Social Security.
This group is still a minority, but right now they have more power than at any time since the early 1900s.
Few people (outside of this group) look back on the 1950s as a period of socialism and massive giveaways. The G.I. Bill, home loans for veterans, the minimum wage — all contributed to making that period the most prosperous in our history. And it’s all headed for the chopping block. Eventually. Incrementally. Brace yourself for more and more Orwellian variations on their “saving Social Security” rhetoric.
A White House strategist said in a recent memo: “For the first time in six decades, the Social Security battle is one we can win—and in doing so, we can help transform the political and philosophical landscape of the country.”
Make no mistake — this “ownership” society that the Right is chirping about is a euphemism for dismantling it all: Social Security, the progressive income tax, minimum wage, you name it. We were an “ownership” society during the 1930s depression. Do we want that again?
posted by Tom Harper @ 12:13 AM
6 Comments:
What is wrong with eliminating SS as we know it and allow people to control their own retirement? I would prefer the Fair Tax over the Flat tax. It is more fair and will increase the economy enormously. The U.S. would be the destination of most businesses.
"do we really want that?"
YES
the pendulum swings. You'll never see a govt completely free from entitlements. But I would like some of the socialism to end.
(*)>
Hey Tom,
What do mean "minority"?
In 2004, Bush was re-elected with more than 51 percent of the vote and democrats say he doesn't have a mandate. Yet In 1976, Jimma Carta squeaked by with barely 50 percent, and democrats said it was a huge mandate.
In the two times Bill Clinton was elected, he received well under 50 percent of the vote, and again democrats insisted that he had a mandate.
President Bush's popular and electoral 2004 vote margins of over 51 percent granted him a definite mandate, and thus also exposes the fact that by lacking any real mandate both the Carter and Clinton administrations were totally ineffective policy makers, and thus were actually years of little, if not false progress in American history.
These double-standards that liberals live by only enforces the reality of how outside the American mainstream they truly are, and why they keep losing!
You want socialism? MOVE TO CANADA or the EU!
The MAJORITY won't let it happen in America, thank God!
Ottman:
The "minority" I was referring to was not Republicans, or everybody who voted for Bush. A lot of people, including Republicans and Conservatives, are leary of tampering with Social Security.
Tom -
Kinda looks (from the comments) that folks are finally figuring out how the system has been, and it hasn't been fair. I LOVE the idea of a flat tax, with NO loop holes, including mortgage deduction. Dismantle SS, works for me, in the worst of times the average stock fund gained 4% (as tracked over 20 years) while at the best of times SS gained 1.5% (as tracked over the same 20 years). It's MY money, not yours, let me control MY money - quit trying to 'distribute' it.
Socialism doesn't work, take a look at the various European countries that are running it (to various degrees) France, Germany, Finland, Norway - I'd MUCH rather live here than in any one of those countries (which is why I do). If you believe that socialism is the way to go, then I suggest you move to one of the socialistic countries.
I welcome dissenting viewpoints (and I'm sure getting them in droves from this post :) ).
But the conservative mantra that just drives me up a tree is: "If you don't like it here why don't you move to another country," "America: Love it or leave it," etc. etc. It's a totally mindless kneejerk response. How many conservatives left the country when Clinton was president (or Carter? Johnson?)?
People who disagree with the government obviously like it here; they care enough to try changing things. This is a great country; the current president (and his harem that used to be known as Congress) sucks. Two separate things.
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